Low-Dose Oral Minoxidil Effective for Alopecia in Breast Cancer
THURSDAY, Dec. 12, 2024 -- Low-dose oral minoxidil (LDOM) is effective for alopecia in patients with breast cancer, according to a letter to the editor published online Dec. 3 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Devyn Zaminski, from the New York University Grossman School of Medicine in New York City, and colleagues examined the safety and effectiveness of LDOM (5 mg or less per day) for alopecia in patients with breast cancer in a retrospective analysis. Fifty-one female patients met the inclusion criteria: 25 received chemotherapy in addition to surgery and/or radiotherapy and 26 underwent surgery and/or radiation alone. All patients took LDOM for at least one month, starting during or after breast cancer treatment.
The researchers found that 29 patients (56.9 percent) experienced 44 side effects, with no significant difference seen in incidence between the groups. Most side effects (61.4 percent) were hypertrichosis; there were no pericardial or life-threatening side effects. Side effects were reported earlier by chemotherapy patients versus those not receiving chemotherapy (median, 97 versus 191 days). After three to six months of taking LDOM, all patients had improvement or stability of alopecia; no significant difference was seen in the effectiveness of LDOM for chemotherapy and nonchemotherapy patients. At six months or longer, three patients in the chemotherapy group reported worsening alopecia, two with corroborating physician assessments. All three patients had previous exposure to taxanes.
"Our results should offer reassurance to breast cancer patients that there is indeed a safe way to combat their hair loss," Zaminski said in a statement.
Several authors disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Read this next
Cancer Survival Lower in Rural Areas
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 1, 2025 -- Five-year cancer survival rates for each stage of cancer (localized, regional, and distant) is lower in nonmetropolitan areas for Black and White...
Elderly Patients Benefit From Screening Mammography
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 1, 2025 -- Patients with breast cancer diagnosed at 80 years of age or older who received screening mammography present with earlier-stage disease and have better...
Skipping First Mammogram Screening Increases Long-Term Breast Cancer Mortality Risk
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 1, 2025 -- Women who do not participate in their first eligible mammogram screening have a long-term risk for dying from breast cancer, according to a study...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.